Population Growth

With the fastest growing population in Washington State, attractions for residents and visitors, and a friendly business climate, the Tri-Cities is a Northwest hot spot to live, work and play. Commercial opportunities are plentiful and demand is strong in Kennewick. 

• 2021 Population Estimate:85,940
• City: 29.2 square miles

Location

Kennewick is in Benton County in the southeastern part of Washington, near the DOE Complex. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities. Kennewick is located along the southwest bank of the Columbia River, opposite Pasco and just south of the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers. The nearest commercial airport is the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, a regional commercial and private airport. Kennewick was officially incorporated on February 5, 1904.

The “Tri-Cities"

The name of the metropolitan statistical area made up of the principal cities of Kennewick, Richland and Pasco. Kennewick, the largest of the three, has a strong manufacturing, food processing, retail trade and services economy. Pasco's fast-growing economy is based on food processing, and Richland is home to Washington State University-Tri-Cities and the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

Housing

The Tri-Cities was ranked number 3 on the top ten list of best places to start over due to its job opportunities, affordable housing (PDF) and low cost of living.